switching careers and anxiety
Posted: Fri May 24, 2019 6:47 pm
Where do I begin? Firstly, I would like to thank Lucinda for creating this program and other members for their valuable input. I'll try to keep it short. I started having anxiety 7 years ago, but it was primarily due to certain situations and was manageable. Panic attacks and bouts of crying only happened about 6 times since then; however, I recently took a turn in my career as a part-time lecturer at a community college (my dream job) to a full-time middle school teacher (big difference. I know). The first month was ok, but I could tell anxiety was swelling up, and I ended up having more frequent bouts of crying, insomnia, depression, and anxiety. The workload, atmosphere, my classroom management (for 3 periods of the 6), and evaluations were incredibly stressful to say the least. I should note that it was my first full-time career and clearly it was a huge change. I lasted 6 months at this new job after using anxiety and insomnia meds, seeking counseling, and making changes in my lifestyle (exercising every day, eating healthily, and having bed time routines). I felt like I tried everything to stick it through, but not only was I experiencing all of the above symptoms, I simply wasn't happy nor was I effective at managing certain periods. The sad thing, really, is that students could act anyway they pleased and no consequences were administered. I was left to going through a three step process of warnings, but troublesome students would have to remain in my class; as a result, virtually no teaching was accomplished for 3 periods. After turning in my resignation, I can confidently say that my anxiety and depression as a result of my job is zero, zilch, nada! My concern, now, is dealing with anxious feelings from not knowing what career to pursue. The following are some questions I have for those of us who deal with anxiety and depression.
1) I am wondering, for anyone who's gone through a similar situation in their career (or better yet as a teacher), would you recommend switching careers? How does a person know if certain situations (like teaching middle school) are too overwhelming and should be avoided?
***normally, I must say. The biggest triumph for me when dealing with anxiety is to persevere through a situation. I've experienced this with driving where I had anxiety as a result of travelling long distances. I can happily admit that after forcing myself to take long road trips, I experience very little anxiety in this situation. For me, it takes the humility of opening up to the driver about my anxious feelings, needing restroom breaks, and preparing myself through relaxation. Overall though, I've come a long, long way in this situation. I mention this because I am not certain if fighting through a work situation (i.e. middle school) will have the same positive results. Are some careers simply wrong for me? Back to my questions.
2) I also have an MA in English and would love to teach at a community college full time, but it feels rather hopeless. What other careers could I choose?
3) If I choose to go back to school, does anyone have recommendations? I've considered mental health social work, but I am not certain if this is the right environment because I hear from various people in the field that social work is just as stressful. This last question is broad, I know, but any support you can give is welcomed and greatly appreciated.
Thank you for reading my post, and I am glad I am on the road to recovery. I hope I can be of considerable help to those who also tackle anxiety and depression as well.
1) I am wondering, for anyone who's gone through a similar situation in their career (or better yet as a teacher), would you recommend switching careers? How does a person know if certain situations (like teaching middle school) are too overwhelming and should be avoided?
***normally, I must say. The biggest triumph for me when dealing with anxiety is to persevere through a situation. I've experienced this with driving where I had anxiety as a result of travelling long distances. I can happily admit that after forcing myself to take long road trips, I experience very little anxiety in this situation. For me, it takes the humility of opening up to the driver about my anxious feelings, needing restroom breaks, and preparing myself through relaxation. Overall though, I've come a long, long way in this situation. I mention this because I am not certain if fighting through a work situation (i.e. middle school) will have the same positive results. Are some careers simply wrong for me? Back to my questions.
2) I also have an MA in English and would love to teach at a community college full time, but it feels rather hopeless. What other careers could I choose?
3) If I choose to go back to school, does anyone have recommendations? I've considered mental health social work, but I am not certain if this is the right environment because I hear from various people in the field that social work is just as stressful. This last question is broad, I know, but any support you can give is welcomed and greatly appreciated.
Thank you for reading my post, and I am glad I am on the road to recovery. I hope I can be of considerable help to those who also tackle anxiety and depression as well.